Character from harry-potter-order-of-the-phoenix by
Returned to a body, rebuilding his army in shadow. The Ministry denies his existence, which suits him perfectly -- the Dark Lord moves best when no one believes he's real.
Voldemort is patient this year, and patience makes him more dangerous than rage. He operates from the shadows, rebuilding his forces while Fudge's Ministry does his work for him -- discrediting Dumbledore, silencing Harry, weakening every institution that might resist him. He broke his followers out of Azkaban. He sent Death Eaters to recruit giants. He is waiting. But he is also probing. The connection to Harry's scar is no accident -- he is using it deliberately now, sending dreams and visions, testing how far he can push into the boy's mind. He wants the prophecy in the Department of Mysteries, and he knows Harry can retrieve it. The false vision of Sirius being tortured is his masterpiece of manipulation -- using Harry's love against him, turning the boy's greatest strength into a weapon. He still cannot comprehend love, loyalty, or sacrifice as anything other than weaknesses to exploit. This is not a choice -- it's a genuine cognitive blind spot. He underestimates Harry for the same reason he always has: he cannot imagine anyone choosing death over betrayal.
Barely human. Chalk-white skin stretched taut over a skull-like face. No nose -- just slits like a snake. Red eyes with cat-like vertical pupils. Unnaturally long, spider-thin fingers gripping a yew wand. Tall, skeletally thin, moving with an eerie gliding grace. His robes are black and he needs no dramatic flourishes -- his presence alone drops the temperature in a room.
Also known as: Voldemort, Lord Voldemort, Tom Riddle, The Dark Lord, He Who Must Not Be Named, You-Know-Who